Journey Itinerary Trans Mongolian Explorer Days Westbound Countries Distance Activity level 27 Beijing to St. Petersburg China + Mongolia + Russia 9,062 km Enjoy fascinating interludes in Mongolia, Siberia, and Russia s Golden Ring on this exciting overland journey using iconic rail services between Beijing, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Sundowners - Trans Mongolian Explorer Page 1 of 7
Days 1-3: Beijing Join us in the ever-changing metropolis of Beijing. Take in the sights, sounds and smells of the ancient laneways of the Hutongs or sample a rare delicacy at Donghuamen Night Market. Old meets new in the fashionable shopping district of Wangfujing or you may decide to take in a performance at one of the many Chinese Opera Houses. The Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and Mao s Mausoleum all provide a fascinating insight into China s history, whilst an exciting excursion beyond the city to the Great Wall cannot be missed. Join your Tour Leader and fellow travellers on Day 1 at 5:00pm for your pre-departure meeting as detailed on your joining instructions. Sightseeing - Day 2 Excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, Day 3 Excursion to Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Tiananmen Square, City Exploring and free time, Optional activity: Evening Performance Meals - Day 2 Breakfast, Day 3 Breakfast Day 4: Beijing to Ulaanbaatar From Beijing s central station we board the Ulaanbaatar Express for the overnight journey across the Gobi Desert to the Mongolian capital. Day 5: Welcome to Mongolia! This quirky city is a clash of the old and new, where modern life comfortably co-exists with traditional culture. A night in Ulaanbaatar will allow you to sample some of the country s most intriguing cuisine and perhaps take in a performance showcasing the traditional Horse and Hair Fiddle. Sightseeing - No scheduled sightseeing, optional activity: evening performance Day 6: To Kharkhorin We spend the next two nights beyond the city amongst what was once the homeland of the brilliant, tough, well-drilled horsemen who, for over 500 years in the 13th century, plundered and occupied lands from the Yellow River to the Danube. Here you can enjoy aspects of Mongolian nomadic life whilst staying in traditional gers. Venture out into the countryside to visit the ancient capital of Kharkhorin. Here you will find the Erdene Zuu Monastery, built in 1586, this was the first Buddhist centre in Mongolia and today is still considered by many to be the country s most significant. Over 100 temples were constructed, but most were destroyed during the Soviet era, nevertheless, Erdene Zuu retains much of its former glory and is a remarkable sight to visit. Sightseeing - Gandan Khiid, Zaisan Memorial, Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu & Dinner Sundowners - Trans Mongolian Explorer Page 2 of 7
Day 7: Khustai National Park Continue across the wild desolate countryside to Khustai National Park, to see the last remaining breed of wild horse and overnight in a ger camp. Sightseeing - Khustai National Park & Dinner Day 8: Return to Ulaanbaatar Returning to Ulaanbaatar via the gigantic Genghis Khan statue, there is time to see more of the capital on our City Tour, including the fascinating National History Museum, before we spend our final evening in this quirky city. Sightseeing - Genghis Khan Statue, City Tour including National History Museum & Sukhbaatar Square Day 9: Ulan Ude This morning we travel by road into the Buryatia region. Reminiscent of old Siberia, Ulan Ude is a melting pot of Buddhism, native Siberian and European culture, located in the middle of the vast Siberian steppe. Day 10: Ulan Ude and to Irkutsk Today, the local open-air Ethnographic Museum tells us an interesting story about the life and traditions of native Siberians, and we will also have the privilege of observing monks going about their daily lives at Ivolginsky Datsan, a centre of Buddhism in Russia. This evening we join the Trans Siberian Railway and continue deeper into Siberia towards Irkutsk. Sightseeing - City Tour including Ivolginsk Monastery & Ethnographic Museum, City Exploring and free time Days 11-12: Arrive Irkutsk and Lake Baikal Arriving into Irkutsk early this morning we continue our journey out to Lake Baikal, reputedly the world s deepest lake, where you will be amazed by its vastness being over 600kms long and almost 80kms wide. A stay at the local holiday village of Listvyanka, is an ideal way to relax by the lakeshore and take in the local museums. Sightseeing - Day 11 Museum of Wooden Architecture, Day 12 Limnological Museum Meals - Day 11 Dinner, Day 12 Breakfast Sundowners - Trans Mongolian Explorer Page 3 of 7
Day 13-14: Irkutsk and to Yekaterinburg Irkutsk made its fame as a stopping place on the caravan route from China and for many years was a place of exile. On a walking tour this afternoon you will visit the homes of the Decembrists, the St. Petersburg radicals dispatched here in 1825, before we bid farewell to Siberia and board the Trans Siberian Railway for Yekaterinburg. Life on board is a great social occasion for our Russian hosts and we have the opportunity to share our experiences with them on our way to Yekaterinburg. Sightseeing - Day 13 - Walking City Tour including Local History Museum, City Exploring and free time Meals - Day 13 - Breakfast Days 15-16: Arrive Yekaterinburg Yekaterinburg, the city founded by Peter the Great in 1723, is situated outside Siberia and some 40 kilometres on the Asian side of the Ural mountains. By the 20 century Yekaterinburg became one of Russia s largest and most important financial, industrial and cultural centres. th The city is infamous as the brutal murder site of the Romanov family, which brought tsarist rule to an end, and ushered in the Communist era in 1918. We pay our respects at the church recently built on the site, and see the obelisk which marks the spot where Europe and Asia meet. Sightseeing - Day 16 Full Day City Tour including Romanov Church & Memorial and Europe/Asia Obelisk Meals - Day 16 Breakfast & lunch Days 17-18: To Kazan This morning we travel beyond the Urals Mountains by train to the capital of Tatarstan - Kazan. Built on the intersection of two rivers, Kazan has endured a tumultuous history, in 1553 Ivan the Terrible took it from the Golden Horde and the city under went a process of Russification. Today Tatars, the descendants of the Golden Horde, make up about 43% of the population, maintain their own language as well as culture, and are very proud of their history. During our stay, we soak in the history and culture of this wonderful city on a full day tour with a local guide including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Kazan Kremlin. Sightseeing - Day 18 - City Tour including the Kazan Kremlin Meals - Day 17 Breakfast, Day 18 Breakfast Day 19: To Murom After a morning to further wander the city, we make our way back to the station to meet our onward train to Murom the gateway to Russia s Golden Ring. Sightseeing - City Exploring and free time Sundowners - Trans Mongolian Explorer Page 4 of 7
Days 20-21: Suzdal Awake to the picturesque ancient city of Murom. Once home to two of Russia s most beloved saints, Prince Peter and his wife Fevronia, as well as the birthplace of Russia s most infamous hero, Ilya Muromets, on this morning s city tour we witness the impressive monuments dedicated to the Russian icons. We continue to the tranquil, medieval town of Suzdal. At the core of Suzdal is the town s Kremlin, its north and south gates crafted by a unique fire-gold technique, representing some of the best-preserved examples of ancient Russian architecture. Sightseeing - Day 20 Half Day Murom City Tour, Day 21 Suzdal City Tour including Kremlin. Monastery and Wooden Architecture Museum. Meals - Day 20 Breakfast, Day 21 - Breakfast Day 22: Suzdal and on to Moscow via Vladimir Leaving Suzdal early this morning you transfer for a brief stop in Vladimir before continuing onto Russia s capital. Vladimir's heyday was during the 12th century under the reign of Prince Andrey Bogolubsky who strengthened its defences and welcomed architects, icon painters and jewellers. It was during this time the Golden Gates and the Assumption Cathedral were built to announce Vladimir's claim as the capital of medieval Rus. Today both these historic sites are UNESCO World Heritage Listed. Sightseeing - Vladimir sightseeing including the Golden Gate and the Holy Assumption Cathedral. Days 23: Moscow Our penultimate stop is Moscow; here you will have ample time to explore the echoing vastness of Red Square, the splendid twirled cupolas of St. Basil s across the cobblestones, and the Kremlin itself visiting the Armoury Chamber with its incredible collection of amazing pieces including over fifty Faberge eggs! Sightseeing - Full Day Moscow City Tour including Red Square and St. Basil s Cathedral Day 24: Moscow and to St. Petersburg Late evening on Day 24 we board our final train bound for the stunning Venice of the North, St. Petersburg. Sightseeing - Day 24 Half Day Tour including Kremlin and Armoury Chamber, City Exploring and free time, Optional activity: evening performance. Sundowners - Trans Mongolian Explorer Page 5 of 7
What's included Group size 15 maximum Meals 20 breakfasts 1 lunch 3 dinners Transfers All transfers including to and from the airport. Accommodation 16 hotel (twin share) 2 guesthouse (twin share) 2 nights Mongolian ger (shared) 6 train (4-berth) Sightseeing Comprehensive schedule of sightseeing with certified Local Guides. You ll have a generous sprinkling of free time to relax or explore on your own. Expertise Expert local guides Train tickets provided Visa support Advice from Travel Advisors Optional single supplement available for hotel stays prices available on request Contact Us Client enquiries and reservations Australia: 1300 559 860 New Zealand: 0800 770 156 UK: 0208 877 7657 Europe: +44 208 877 7657 Worldwide: +61 3 9672 5386 travel@sundownersoverland.com Travel agent enquiries and reservations Australia: 1300 559 860 New Zealand: 0800 770 156 UK: 0208 877 7657 Europe: +44 208 877 7657 Worldwide: +61 3 9672 5386 agentsales@sundownersoverland.com Client enquiries and reservations Level 1, 51 Queen Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000 Australia T: +61 3 9672 5300 www.sundownersoverland.com Sundowners - Trans Mongolian Explorer Page 7 of 7